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Research ethics

As part of the NHS, Health Scotland must comply with the recognised ethical standards set out by the UK National Research Ethics Service (NRES) for all NHS health related research. NHS Research Ethics Committees (RECs) are convened to provide independent advice on the extent to which proposals for research studies within the NHS comply with these ethical standards.

NHS Health Scotland recognises that all research that engages with people should be done in an ethical way.

It is important to consider ethical issues associated with research and how this informs the project approach/methodology.

• The National Research Ethics Service (NRES) (external link) provides guidance to practitioners wishing to undertake NHS research. Advice is available on how to decide whether your work will require ethical approval, how to prepare and submit an ethical application, as well as news, publications and useful links.
• The Social Research Association (SRA) Ethical Guidance (external link) provides guidance on ethical considerations for social research in relation to obligations to individuals, funders/employees, colleagues, subjects and ethical committees.

Equality and diversity

The importance of considering characteristics such as someone’s ethnicity, or socio-economic or marriage/civil partnership status in research cannot be overstated. Research informs policy and programme development which subsequently informs the national actions and policies that emerge. The more we can take account of experiences and perspectives of people with different characteristics, the more likely that those perspectives are integrated into policy and practice. If these issues and perspectives continue to be missed in research, there is a danger that we continue to reinforce existing inequalities by failing to address discrimination and account for the diversity of experiences and needs in Scotland today.

NHS Health Scotland has a public duty under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations in everything we do.

It is important to consider issues of equality and inequality throughout the research process. For example, how they can add to our understanding when considering how to approach projects and how decisions about research and its execution could impact on equality.

• Further information about the duties in the Equality Act 2010 (external link) can be found on the Scottish Government's website.
• For those wishing to undertake research with or about lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people, Stonewall Scotland's getting it right LGBT Research Guidelines (external link) provides useful guidance for practitioners in areas such as ethical issues, classification and definition, sampling, achieving diversity and inclusiveness, methodology and reporting.
• The Scottish Government hosts the Portal to Resources and Information on Mainstreaming Equalities (PRIME) (external link) which includes a wide range of equality-related resources for policy makers and researchers.

NHS Health Scotland is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.


If you encounter any issues with the above named publications or external web links, please contact the Research Officer (nhs.healthscotland-researchofficer@nhs.net).

Reviewed 18 January 2012